Maple Marquee

The Maple PTO will be hosting a book fair through Anderson’s Bookshop from December 10-13. The fair will be held on the Maple stage and will be open for student browsing before school, during recess, and after school. ELA classes will also attend the book fair. This will be an excellent opportunity for students to purchase independent reading books and also to support teachers by purchasing wishlist books for classroom libraries. The PTO will also host a family night at the book fair on Tuesday, December 10 at 5:00 p.m. We look forward to seeing you at the book fair!

We have a few last minute volunteer spots open, if you can help us out, we would really appreciate it. Click on the button below.

Monday, December 9

• 8 Grade Glenbrook Academy of International Studies meeting, 8:00 am, Room 206
  

Tuesday, December 10

• PTO Book Fair Family Night, 5:30 - 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday, December 11

• PTO Book Fair
• PTO Ice Cream Day

Thursday, December 12

• PTO Book Fair
• Maple Choir at GBS Winter Concert, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.

Friday, December 13

• Student Council Holiday Party, 3:45 - 5:15 p.m.

For this year's Art of Giving, Maple will partner with Gigi's Playhouse of Deerfield. Gigi’s Playhouse is an organization that "seeks to change the way the world views Down syndrome and to send a global message of acceptance for all. They provide free educational, therapy-based, and career development programs for individuals with Down syndrome and their families."

One activity that Maple students will participate in will be creating designs that Gigi’s Playhouse will print on mugs or water bottles to sell in their store, Hugs and Mugs.

Students have the option of donating $5 to Gigi’s Playhouse. In return, they will receive a mug or water bottle sporting their design. There will be an order form coming home with all students. If interested, students can bring $5 in cash with the order form in a labeled envelope any time between December 16-20. Again, this is optional. All students will create a design without needing to purchase one.

We are looking forward to this wonderful partnership opportunity!

The Maple World Language Teachers are excited to be visiting the 5th grade classrooms on the following dates:

• Wescott on Tuesday, January 14 from 10:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.
• Willowbrook on Thursday, January 16 from 10:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.

Mini-lessons and presentations will be given about the French and Mandarin classes offered at Maple. Promo videos of Spanish, French and Mandarin will be presented and program questions will also be answered during this time.

The World Language Choice Form will be pushed out to parents electronically via email on Friday, January 17 for both elementary schools. The deadline for the language selection is Friday, January 24.

A charter is a working document that is never set in stone. This month as part of our RULER School-Home Connection, we are revisiting our charters to evaluate and revise our ever-changing needs.

We will also be looking at our charters through a lens of empathy to ensure students feel a sense of belonging in our classrooms and brainstorm ways for how we can help everyone in our community feel safe, regardless of differences.

NEXT WEEK: Find out what your child is learning at school about empathy.

DEC. 20: Learn how to discuss your child's charter revisions at school and home and how to use empathy in your household

If you are interested in purchasing a student designed math team T-shirt or sweatshirt please click here or the button below to access the order form. The store will be open through Monday, December 9.

As part of the Cradles to Crayons coat drive now happening at Maple for sizes infant to adult, our Maple orchestra will perform in Northbrook United: Music for Warmth on Dec. 13 at Northbrook Junior High, 1475 Maple Ave., Northbrook. The program will feature schools from throughout Northbrook united for this cause!

Cradles to Crayons provides children from birth through high school, living in homeless or low-income situations, with the essential items they need to thrive – at home, at school and at play. They supply these items free of charge by engaging and connecting communities. Cradles to Crayons envisions a world where one day every child will have the essentials they need to feel safe, warm, ready to learn, and valued.

The Glenbrook Academy of International Studies is a selective-enrollment program that combines students from Glenbrook North and Glenbrook South for four years of English, social science, and world language study. The incoming class of 2025's language is German. Teachers and Maple alumni students from the Academy will be meeting with interested 8th-grade students on Monday, December 9 at 8:00 a.m. in room 206. They will provide information about the program and the application process as well as answer student questions.

Thank you for your continued cooperation with our traffic protocols to ensure the safety of our students during drop-off and pick-up times. Here are a few important reminders:

• Use Designated Entrances: In the morning, you may use either the east Activity Entrance or the north Main Entrance for drop-off. In the afternoon, students must be picked up at the north Main Entrance only.
• Curbside Entry/Exit: Ensure students enter and exit vehicles only on the curbside to avoid stepping into traffic.
• Slow in Passing Lanes: If passing stopped vehicles in the drop-off or pick-up line, please drive slowly and cautiously.
• No Alternate Parking: Please do not use Glenbrook North or La Salceda parking lots for drop-off or pick-up to ensure student safety and prevent disruptions to their lots or dismissal practices.
• Follow the Flow: Please do not move cones or create shortcuts through parking spaces, as this compromises safety.

Thank you for helping us create a safe environment for our students.

Dear Maple Families:

As the holiday season approaches, we have a wonderful opportunity to bring joy and warmth to families in need. The Maple Student Council is excited to announce a special initiative where students can help brighten the lives of less fortunate children by purchasing toys for the holidays.

How you can help:

• Choose a toy or gift card - We’ve partnered with the Northfield Township to collect toys for families in the area. Your gift can be anything from a stuffed animal to a game or educational toy.

• We encourage Maple students to purchase toys or gift cards and in return will receive raffle tickets for amazing prizes. You can drop off your new, unwrapped items and receipt to Ms. Reimer at the East Gym no later than Wednesday, December 18.

• Raffle tickets will also be available during all lunch periods for purchase, .25 cents each or 5 for $1.00. Your student will then choose from many amazing prizes.

• Make a difference - Every toy or gift card you donate will go directly to a child in need, spreading holiday cheer to those who may not otherwise receive a gift this season.

Together, we can make this holiday season a little brighter for those who need it most. We encourage you to participate, share the joy, and help create lasting memories for these children.

Student Council board members and sponsors would like to thank everyone who has donated so far. Thank you for your generosity and support!

The PE/Wellness Department will conduct state mandated FitnessGram fitness assessment for all PE students during the week of December 10-13, 2024. All PE students will need to attend PE classes on those dates (Health students do not test).

If possible, please do not schedule any appointments during this class time. First period students should be on time and ready for class. Thank you.

Now through December 13, Maple school will participate in the Rotary Club of Northbrook's annual "Coat Off Your Back" drive.

New and like-new coats for infants, children, teens and adults of all genders can be donated in bins placed at Maple and Wescott schools. Hats, gloves, scarves in new condition are also accepted. Donations will benefit area organizations that include: Connections for the Homeless; PADS Lake County, Inc.; WINGS Program, Inc.; North Shore Helpers; The Veterans Closet; RefugeeOne; World Relief Chicagoland; HIAS; ECC; Stock the Shelves; Deerfield Free Store.

Thank you for helping those in need in our community!

We are still looking for volunteers to participate in the morning interviews for 8th grade Career Day on Friday, February 21!

The aim of the Career Day program is to improve our 8th-graders’ interview skills and broaden their career perspectives. Volunteers will be expected to kindly and professionally lead students through a series of 20 minute mock interviews. If you are interested in volunteering please complete the form below.

Now through Dec. 31, you can register for a discount fo r the 24th annual Lew Blond Memorial 5K Run/Walk happening May 17! We hope you will join us for a day of family fun and philanthropy! Visit lewblondrun.org for pricing and bundles.

Popsicle Party Challenge: This challenge returns with a friendly contest between the three schools of Northbrook/Glenview School District 30 – Wescott, Willowbrook and Maple – to see which school has the most students register for the race. The winning school will win a popsicle party for all students in May! Will Maple unseat Willowbrook this year? Game on!

Thank You to our Blizzard Day Co-Chairs Jessy Aaron and Jami Gryll, and our volunteers Soonhee Chang, Julian Cheng, Stacy Dubin, and Danielle Pollack for helping Blizzard Day go smoothly.

There's still time to order Blizzards for the last two Blizzard Days! If you’ve already registered for the PTO, just email maplepto@district30.org to add Blizzards. If you haven’t registered yet, please use the link below to sign up and order Blizzards for your student. Thank you!

Maple PTO Ice Cream Day will take place the 2nd Wednesday of the month from September through May. The next Ice Cream Day is December 11th. As part of PTO registration, you had the option to prepay for Ice Cream for the year. If you prepaid, your student will receive a frozen treat of their choice on Wednesday. If you did not prepay during registration, your student can bring $2.00 to school. Thank you.

A simple "thank you" or a personal note can really make someone's day. Would you like to send a positive postcard to a teacher or a staff member? Please follow these steps in this short presentation, and if you have any questions, please contact Jeanie Moran from the Tech Team.

Please follow these steps:

1. Login to Parent Portal

2. Click on Forms on the left-hand side

3. Under General Forms, click on this form: 2024-25 School Year Information

4. You will see a Schoology Access Code along with the guide on how to sign up.

If you have any further questions, please reach out to Jeanie Moran at jmoran@district30.org

Help support your student with the Homework Grid. Click on the link below, then click on Homework Grid in the left hand column.

Want to know what's going on around the community? District 30 uses a "Virtual Backpack" to share community information while saving paper, costs, and lightening the loads our students bring home. Please click the button below to view upcoming Community Events.

Any time a student feels unsafe, any adult in their school can help!

But sometimes, students or parents wish to reach out for help in a different way or after school hours. Safe2Help Illinois offers students a safe way to share information 24/7 that might help prevent any threat to school safety, including bullying, self-harm or other serious concerns.

The goal of this program is to get students to “seek help before harm;" it is not intended to suspend, expel, or punish. Safe2Help Illinois also offers a Mental Health Toolkit that provides resources for parents and educators reinforce the components of this program.

Safe2Help Illinois offers around-the-clock help via:

• Hotline: 844-4-SAFEIL
• Text line: 72332
• Email HELP@Safe2HelpIL.com
• Plus a website full of resources for young people seeking help for themselves or a friend. Its Ways To Get Help page is a directory of specialized hotlines, and other sections of its website provide practical steps for dealing with depression or helping a distraught friend. The checklist called "20 Questions To Ask Yourself If You Feel Like Giving Up" can help older children overcome a bout of anxiety or depression.

Maple School is part of Northbrook/Glenview District 30, which exists to create an inclusive community that inspires learning, fosters resiliency, and cares deeply for every child. We honor childhood and foster intellectual, physical and social-emotional growth. District 30 serves more than 1,200 students in pre-K through 8th grade across Willowbrook, Wescott and Maple Schools.

We prohibit harassment and discrimination of all forms within our district and follows all policies and procedures to ensure a safe environment for all.

Main Office: 847-400-8900

Location: 2370 Shermer Road, Northbrook, IL, USA

Website: district30.org